Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlore’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Sunphlore’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; bright red purple-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; tolerance to high temperatures; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunphlore’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox drummondii, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sunphlore.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact Phlox cultivars with attractive flower coloration.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in June, 2000 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 01Ph-12b, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Phlox drummondii cultivar Sunphlocarma, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sunphlore have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunphlore’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunphlore’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Bright red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Tolerant to high temperatures.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox had light green-colored lateral         branches whereas plants of the female parent selection had         yellow green-colored lateral branches.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox did not produce seeds whereas plants         of the female parent selection produced seeds.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Sunphlocarma. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the cultivar Sunphlocarma in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were broader than plants of the         cultivar Sunphlocarma.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had light green-colored lateral         branches whereas plants of the cultivar Sunphlocarma had         purple-colored lateral branches.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Sunphlocarma         differed in petal coloration as plants of the cultivar         Sunphlocarma had purple-colored petals.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of the Phlox drummondii cultivar Parona Carmine, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the cultivar Parona Carmine in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous and more freely         branching than plants of the cultivar Parona Carmine.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were broader than plants of the         cultivar Parona Carmine.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox had smaller leaves than plants of the         cultivar Parona Carmine.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely flowering than         plants of the cultivar Parona Carmine.     -   5. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Parona Carmine         differed in petal coloration as plants of the cultivar Parona         Carmine have purple-colored petals.     -   6. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time         than plants of the cultivar Parona Carmine.     -   7. Plants of the new Phlox did not produce seeds whereas plants         of the cultivar Parona Carmine produced seeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sunphlore’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Sunphlore’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices during the summer. Plants were grown in 15-cm containers and were about four months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 12° C. Plants were pinched one time in the spring. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii cultivar Sunphlore. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             drummondii identified as code number ‘01Ph-12b’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Phlox drummondii cultivar             ‘Sunphlocarma’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at 20 to             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—About one to two months at             20 to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; ivory to pale brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; vigorous growth             habit. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.8 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 45.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20.8 cm. Diameter: About             1.7 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;             sessile. Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation             pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Color: Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: 137B; venation, similar to             lamina. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             138B; venation, similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers             arranged in terminal and lateral cymes; flowers face upright             and outward. Freely flowering habit with about six flowers             per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Present; typical of Phlox.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from April             to late October in Japan. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on             the plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Clavate. Color: 70B.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.7 cm. Depth: About 1.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.3 cm. Lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Shape:             Broadly rhombic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Aspect:             Mostly flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper             surface: N57A; towards the base, 59A. Developing and fully             expanded petals, lower surface: 76D; towards the margin,             59D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 4.8 mm.             Width: About 0.3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             immature, upper and lower surfaces: 137B. Color, mature,             upper and lower surfaces: 137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             12A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Stigma             shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: 1C. Style length: About             0.4 mm. Style color: 1C. Ovary color: 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted     to be resistant to specific pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and tolerated     temperatures from 0 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlore’, as illustrated and described. 